Jamali tipped for Rollers take-over
The future of arguably Botswana’s most popular football brand, Township Rollers, hangs on a cliff following announcement by the club president, Jagdish Nartwarlal Shah that he will be stepping down come end of the current campaign.
According to information from the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA), Township Rollers are a private company, trading as Township Rollers Proprietary Limited and Shah owns 80 percent shares of the club with Kgosi Ngakayagae owning the remaining 20 percent representing the society.
While the reasons for Shah’s resignations are still sketchy at this moment, there are rumours already making waves suggesting that potential suitors are weighing their options to take charge of the Blue train.
Having powered Mochudi Centre Chiefs to almost a decade of dominance in the local league after entering into a partnership agreement with the club back in 2013, property mogul, Sayed Jamali is reported to be one of the keen admirers of the brand that is Township Rollers.
Jamali already has a state of the art facility in Tlokweng that encompasses various services such as a hotel, conference venue, residential houses, shopping mall, a gym and a sports complex.
Mapalastina are currently using some areas of the facility which includes Grand Aria stadium, which they use for training while players occupy some apartments.
Back in 2018, it was also reported that Jamali proposed to Jagdish Shah to come on board as partners but the move did not materialize while the transformation processes of the club were still ongoing.
In recent weeks, Shah has had to boldly come out to protect the club’s under siege Chief Executive Officer, Bennett Mamelodi after some supporters came calling for his exit over claims of incompetence.
With the society holding 20 percent shares of the club, Shah has increasingly grown frustrated by their interference in the administration operations of the club and subsequently tendered a resignation.
However, further information emanating from those close to the developments indicate that, Shah could still be the director of the club subject to him owning 100 percent stake of the club.
“In line with Township Rollers FC Constitution, branches are requested to send three (3) delegates to attend the SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING to be held on Saturday, 18th March 2023, at Gaborone, at a venue to be confirmed, 9 am. The purpose of the meeting is; 1, to discuss the resignation of Mr Jagdish Shah. 2, Make resolutions on the resignation,” the clubs statement read after announcement of Shah’s resignation.
When contacted for a comment, Shah could not be drawn to discuss reason for his resignation nor possible future engagements with the club.
“There are two places from where I resigned, one is, resign from society where I am a member, and secondly I resigned as a shareholder in the PTY limited, these are the two areas.
In the PTY Limited we have a board, they have asked for some time to pass a resolution on whether to accept or reject my resignation.
Firstly I have to wait for the PTY Limited board resolution, secondly, I’ll have to wait until the 18th of March when the society will be having an extra ordinary general meeting." Shah told BG sport.
“I don’t know if anyone will be interested to engage with me or not, they are still talking to their members and they will discuss and make a decision.
I have to allow them the opportunity to go through that process,” Shah responded when asked on possible future engagements with the club beyond the current season.
Contacted for comment , Jamali was quick to distanced himself from any links of a possible return to local football.
"No I'm not interested to return to football" the business mogul said.
Quizzed on any links to Rollers Jamali maintained the same stance.
"At the moment I'm not interested really" he told BG Sport.
In June last year, this publication reported that, Shah, had submitted documents to the Botswana Football Association (BFA) which suggested that the club owes him an amount in excess of P20 million.
The Mapalastina President reportedly withdrew the letter to avoid club licensing penalties, and swiftly moved to classify the debt as the value of the club should there be any future interest to sell the Gaborone based side.